plucky, a. colloq.
(ˈplʌkɪ)
[f. pluck n.1 7 + -y.]
1. Characterized by pluck; showing determination to fight or struggle; brave, courageous, daring.
| [1826 Disraeli Viv. Grey ii. xv, He can still follow a fox, with as pluck a heart, and with as stout a voice, as any squire in Christendom.] 1842 Barham Ingol. Leg. Ser. ii. Smuggler's Leap, If you're ‘plucky’, and not over-subject to fright. 1857 Hughes Tom Brown i. v, The ‘bravos’ of the School-house attest the pluckiest charge of all that hard fought day. 1883 Ld. R. Gower My Remin. I. vii. 135, I do not think any account of this plucky..adventure has appeared elsewhere. 1889 ‘J. S. Winter’ Mrs. Bob (1891) 286 You are the pluckiest little woman I ever knew. |
b. Photogr. Of a print or negative: Bold, decided, bright, clear.
| 1885 C. G. W. Lock Workshop Receipts Ser. iv. 352/2 It works exceedingly well, and uniformly brings out brilliant and plucky images. 1894 Brit. Jrnl. Photogr. XLI. 7 Negatives..strong and plucky in their contrasts. |
2. Geol. [f. pluck v. 1 b.] ‘Disposed to break away in large irregular conchoidal chips’.
| 1891 G. P. Merrill Stones for Build. 39 Fine grained compact rocks..break into concave and convex shell-like surfaces... Such stones are called plucky by the workmen. 1895 in Funk's Stand. Dict. |